Dual Panel1AFTER this he went journeying from town to town and village to village, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him were the Twelve
2and a number of women who had been set free from evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, known as Mary of Magdala, from whom seven demons had come out,
3Joanna, the wife of Chuza a steward of Herod's, Susanna, and many others. These women provided for them out of their own resources.
4People were now gathering in large numbers, and as they made their way to him from one town after another, he said in a parable:
5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some of the seed fell along the footpath, where it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
6Some fell on rock and, after coming up, it withered for lack of moisture.
7Some fell among thistles, and the thistles grew up with it and choked it.
8And some of the seed fell into good soil, and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this he called out, “If you have ears to hear, then hear.”
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant,
10and he replied, “It has been granted to you to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but the others have only parables, so that they may look but see nothing, hear but understand nothing.
11“This is what the parable means. The seed is the word of God.
12The seed along the footpath stands for those who hear it, and then the devil comes and carries off the word from their hearts for fear they should believe and be saved.
13The seed sown on rock stands for those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but have no root; they are believers for a while, but in the time of testing they give up.
14That which fell among thistles represents those who hear, but their growth is choked by cares and wealth and the pleasures of life, and they bring nothing to maturity.
15But the seed in good soil represents those who bring a good and honest heart to the hearing of the word, hold it fast, and by their perseverance yield a harvest.
16“Nobody lights a lamp and then covers it with a basin or puts it under the bed. You put it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light.
17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought into the open.
18“Take care, then, how you listen; for those who have will be given more, and those who have not will forfeit even what they think they have.”
19His mother and his brothers arrived but could not get to him for the crowd.
20He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, and want to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.”
22One day he got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they put out;
23and as they sailed along he fell asleep. Then a heavy squall struck the lake; they began to ship water and were in grave danger.
24They came and roused him: “Master, Master, we are sinking!” they cried. He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the turbulent waters. The storm subsided and there was calm.
25“Where is your faith?” he asked. In fear and astonishment they said to one another, “Who can this be? He gives his orders to the wind and the waves, and they obey him.”
26So they landed in the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27As he stepped ashore he was met by a man from the town who was possessed by demons. For a long time he had neither worn clothes nor lived in a house, but stayed among the tombs.
28When he saw Jesus he cried out, and fell at his feet. “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” he shouted. “I implore you, do not torment me.”
29For Jesus was already ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many a time it had seized him, and then, for safety's sake, they would secure him with chains and fetters; but each time he broke loose and was driven by the demon out into the wilds.
30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied. This was because so many demons had taken possession of him.
31And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss.
32There was a large herd of pigs nearby, feeding on the hillside; and the demons begged him to let them go into these pigs. He gave them leave;
33the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed over the edge into the lake and were drowned.
34When the men in charge of them saw what had happened, they took to their heels and carried the news to the town and countryside;
35and the people came out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at his feet clothed and in his right mind, they were afraid.
36Eyewitnesses told them how the madman had been cured.
37Then the whole population of the Gerasene district was overcome by fear and asked Jesus to go away. So he got into the boat and went away.
38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him; but Jesus sent him away:
39“Go back home,” he said, “and tell them what God has done for you.” The man went all over the town proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.
40When Jesus returned, the people welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.
41Then a man appeared -- Jairus was his name and he was president of the synagogue. Throwing himself down at Jesus's feet he begged him to come to his house,
42because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. While Jesus was on his way he could hardly breathe for the crowds.
43Among them was a woman who had suffered from haemorrhages for twelve years; and nobody had been able to cure her.
44She came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once her haemorrhage stopped.
45Jesus said, “Who was it who touched me?” All disclaimed it, and Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing upon you!”
46But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I felt that power had gone out from me.”
47Then the woman, seeing that she was detected, came trembling and fell at his feet. Before all the people she explained why she had touched him and how she had been cured instantly.
48He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49While he was still speaking, a man came from the president's house with the message, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any more.”
50But Jesus heard, and said, “Do not be afraid; simply have faith and she will be well again.”
51When he arrived at the house he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother.
52Everyone was weeping and lamenting for her. He said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead: she is asleep”;
53and they laughed at him, well knowing that she was dead.
54But Jesus took hold of her hand and called to her: “Get up, my child.”
55Her spirit returned, she stood up immediately, and he told them to give her something to eat.
56Her parents were astounded; but he forbade them to tell anyone what had happened.